A St. Clair County Circuit Court jury found a former youth pastor guilty on seven charges related to the 2014-2021 sexual abuse of four boys in his congregation.
William Stefan Wahl, of Port Huron, had been in his 20s and working at The River Church in Fort Gratiot when the abuse began, with the boys being in their early- to mid-teens. The trial started on Tuesday, June 21, with the jury entering a two-hour deliberation on Friday, June 24. During the trial, Wahl’s defense attorney insisted that the allegations were fabricated due to internal church drama between leadership and the victims’ parents, especially since Wahl’s parents are also pastors in The River church.
The jury did not seem to agree, finding him guilty on all brought charges, including two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim younger than 13, two counts of fourth degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim between 13 and 16, a count of distributing obscene matter to children, a count of aggravated indecent exposure and a count for using a computer to commit a crime.
Wahl faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison when he faces Circuit Court Judge Michael West for his sentencing later this summer, on August 3.
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